Roll Call Tribute

Edwin Ray Templeton
April 15, 1955 - July 2, 2021

Edwin “Ray” Templeton—Daddy, Pa, Ray Ray--was born in Abilene, Texas, to Dade and Rosie Templeton on April 15, 1955. On Friday, July 2, 2021, our sweet husband and Daddy gained ultimate healing and the perfect heavenly body as he looked into the eyes of Jesus. Growing up in Abilene, he met the love of his life, Gaylene, when she got his attention by planting a snowball in his face. Their youthful marriage beat the odds by God’s grace, they experienced the joys and pains of life, love and commitment together for 50 years. He is survived by his sweetheart Gaylene, his 5 children, Amy Hughes '94 (husband Matt '94), Misty Heifrin '00 (husband Frank '00), Ashlee Broadstreet '09 (husband Dallas '09), Abe Templeton '12 (wife Courtney) and Addison Templeton '12 (wife Charlee '13), as well as 17 grandchildren (one class of '18) and 1 great grandchild. Additionally, he is survived by his mother, Rosie Templeton, and his siblings Nelda Bell, Jerald Templeton and Darrell Templeton. He joins family who preceded him in death--his father, Dade and his first grandson Harrison '17. He always loved a good reunion!

After graduation from Cooper High School in 1973, he, Gaylene, and first child Amy, set out on what would become a memory-filled adventure as they towed their mobile home to Tarleton State University and a year later to Texas A&M in College Station. While Gaylene worked diligently to support the family, Ray earned a Chemical Engineering degree from the GREATEST university in Texas. WHOOP! With that achievement as the first in his family to graduate from college, he began a family legacy of Aggies that would extend to his immediate family as well as extended family. After graduation from Texas A&M in 1978, they hooked up the mobile home again with newly added second child, Misty, in tow and began his career in the oil and gas industry in Houston. After a brief relocation to London, England, without the mobile home, they moved back to their hometown of Abilene full of dreams and with great plans for the future. Ray and Gaylene quickly realized their adventurous and entrepreneurial spirits were prompting them to start a business which led to the successful Templeton Companies. After having the same mobile home with 7 different addresses across Texas, Ray & Gaylene decided to set roots down in Potosi and built a much needed homestead to accommodate their third child, Ashlee, or as Dad appropriately named her, “the Queen”. The Templetons had become a family of precious girls, but Ray somehow convinced Gaylene for one more try for a boy. God doubled up on his answer when the twins Abe and Addison were born.

Ray was not only a kind and loving father and “Pa” to his family and a respected businessman in the community but was also a mighty servant and warrior for the Lord. He was always available and present for long talks, counseling, exhortation, word of encouragement and prayer. During a brief retirement from business, Ray embarked on a new adventure and calling—serving the Lord full-time at Beltway Park Baptist Church. It was there that Ray used his leadership skills, infectious personality, and compassionate spirit to bring many people to a closer walk with God. Ray was especially passionate about helping men to step up to the spiritual leadership of their homes through Beltway’s Boot Camp, men’s ministry and marriage ministry. He also had a heart for unconditionally loving all of God’s people: from Ghana to Mexico, from the oil patch to the golf course, everyone he encountered knew he didn’t care where you had been-- he simply cared about where you were going. He left a legacy of pointing people to a deeper relationship with the Lord that he both loved and served. We can almost hear the words of his Savior, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

We will all miss him deeply. But we will see him again!

If you would like to share memories of Ray, the family would love to hear and read your stories. Please email stories and videos to TempletonLegacy@gmail.com.

Visitation will be held at Hamil Family Funeral Home on Buffalo Gap Road from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 7, 2021.

There will be a private family burial at Potosi Cemetery on the morning of July 8th. A memorial service will be at Beltway Park Church South starting at 2:00 p.m. In honor of Ray, please wear your favorite boots, jeans, and Aggie maroon!

Memorial donations may be given to Beltway Ghana Missions and the Wylie Bulldog Education Foundation.

The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Tony Melnyk, Dr. Jim Purpura, Hospice of the Big Country, and all the many family and friends who have prayerfully walked this journey with us.

Ray’s memorial service will be live streamed at https://livestream.com/beltway/events/2057286.


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